Best Places To Visit In March In India

The spring month in almost all of India, March marks the end of winter as we know it. The Indian festival of Holi falls in this month and makes for a vibrant mood all over with colours, sweets and lots of celebration. Other than that, March is the shoulder season for those destinations where summer is the peak time, as well as for those where winter was the best time and is now trailing to an end. Hence expect some good deals, discounts, less crowds and more open spaces to explore. Some of the best places to visit during March in India are Rajasthan, Mathura, Vrindavan, Leh, Kashmir, Port Blair, Shimla, Alleppey etc. Some host exceptional holi celebrations, while others are at their best weather-wise. Either way, here is a detailed list.

Port Blair

Port Blair, the capital of India’s star islands Andaman and Nicobar, is a beautiful collection of nature’s bounty and architecture left behind by British colonisers. In the month of March, Port Blair experiences the faintest whispers of a mild summer, with temperatures climbing from 20°C, up until 36°C by April-May. The skies are relatively dry and make for an awesome mood for beach holidays, without much heat.

Things to Do: 

When in Port Blair, you must first explore the Cellular Jail, a persecution and exile centre used by the British for errant Indian freedom fighters. Other tourist attractions here include the Samudrika Marine Museum, a local museum home to local marine flora and fauna. Head to Chiriya Tapu to see exotic birds and do make it a point to attend the Light and Sound show at Kala Pani (a goose-pimple giving experience about the Indian freedom struggle). You can also take a trip to Ross Island for its colonial charm, or head to the only active South Asian volcano, located at Barren Island. There is also Neil Island and Havelock for island hopping and some pretty amazing beaches.

How to Reach: 

You can reach Port Blair by air or by sea; the air option being faster, more feasible and hassle-free. Direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata etc, and stop over ones from Delhi, Mumbai etc are regular and reach Port Blair’s airport. Boat services from Visakhapatnam take upto 56 hours while Chennai to Port Blair is 60 hours by water. Tickets for these boats can be booked at the headquarters of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).

Leh

Leh is a white desert with rugged hills and clear blue skies, cold as the glaciers in winter and pleasant in summers. The town is a part of Ladakh in Jammu And Kashmir and makes for a coveted tourist destination for its treks, monasteries and lakes. In March, Leh sees a thawing of snow, with winter trailing to its end and spring around the corner. The temperature fluctuates between 15°C and 30°C. The rates are slashed because this is the shoulder season, hence a budget trip at this time is very convenient. 

Things to Do:

Leh is a beautiful city that is rugged and rough at the edges. But what dominates its beauty is the stream of monasteries and lakes. Visit the Leh Palace, the erstwhile home of Ladakhi royals. Drive to Lamayuru Monastery, stop on your way at the Magnetic Hill (kill the car ignition and see your car move up on its own). Other places include the Alchi Monastery, the confluence of Indus and Zanskar river and the Pangong Tso lake. You should also tread the highest motor-able road in the world, i.e. Khardungla Pass and plan a trek in Nubra Valley. Also, make a stop at Hemis Monastery for some landscape photography. The festival of Holi is also celebrated in many parts of Leh at this time so keep an eye out for that.

How to Reach:

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh is the destination for flights coming in from all over India. You can also choose a more daring way and take a car or a bike up the dirt roads. Seasoned bikers prefer the routes from Srinagar (418 km) or Manali (472 km). Rail lines are not well laid out here and hence your best bet is Jammu Tawi Railway Station in Jammu, which is 700 km away.

Kashmir

Emperor Jehangir once serenaded Kashmir with this : “Gar bar rue zameen ast, hami asto, hami asto, hami asto…”

If there is paradise anywhere on this Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here. This is not a feeling in poetry only but the truth of the beauty that is exuded from Kashmir. With its scenic valleys, green meadows, snow-capped mountains and chinar trees, the land is abound with love of god. March is a mixed season in Kashmir, with winter at its end and summer picking up, snow melting and hidden leaves of chinar blooming. A spring through and through. With a range of 12-30°C, March starts cool and end pleasantly. This is also a time of great discounts and deals as the tourist season begins in April. You will also be spared the tourist crowd.

Things to Do:

Kashmir is a breath-taking piece of land, its valley and roads and lakes and boats just as beautiful as its tourist attractions. Go boating in Dal Lake, hire a houseboat for the night and spend the night counting stars. Visit Hazratbal Dargah and Shankracharya temple, take a trip to the Tulip Gardens where the flowers are about to start full bloom. There is also Pari Mahal, Mughal Gardens and Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar. Other towns in Kashmir worth visiting are Sonmarg or the ‘meadow of gold,’ Gulmarg (for mountain sports), Pahalgam and Anantnag. Try their local fare like lotus stem gravy, yakhni pulav, naan and rogan josh. The Kashmir flavoured tea or Kahwa is another great treat. Shop for pashmina shawls, kesar, local baked goodies and milk cakes for souvenirs.

How to Reach:

Sheikh ul-Alam Airport in Srinagar is Kashmir Valley’s major domestic airport and receives flights from cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Amritsar etc. This is the best way to get to Srinagar and then you can hire cars or take buses to travel to other towns. If you want to take the train then you will have to take it to the Jammu Tawi Station in Jammu and then drive all the way up to Srinagar. Hence flights are the best option.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan is a state that perpetually needs no introduction. Simply because the name says it all. This a wonderfully distinguished state of royals, boasting of deserts and palaces, havelis and camels, colours and music - all inherent of its royalty. Rajasthan is especially famous in March as one of the best holiday destinations for one reason - Holi. The festival of colours is celebrated with great pomp and unique traditions in different parts of the state. The weather is also very amicable, with 15°C lows and 34°C highs on an average. 

Things to Do:

In most towns and cities here, Holi is a two part celebration - holika dahan or burning a pyre at night and dhuleti or playing with colours the next morning. In Bharatpur, the Braj festival is celebrated to play holi like Radha and Krishna did, Dolchi Holi is celebrated in Bikaner while Nathdwara’s Shrinathji Temple sees the culmination of 40 days of holi with a grand Dol Utsav (where the idol of Krishna swings in a makeshift swing and abir-gulal i.e. white and red powder are thrown in the air all morning and afternoon). The Udaipur Royal family also hosts a grand holika dahan a day before Holi and it is clubbed with a royal buffet dinner for all the guests at the City Palace. While you are enjoying your holi among these, you can also visit Jaipur for its Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort and Jantar Mantar, Udaipur for Lake Pichhola and Jodhpur for its sand dunes. A trip to Ranthambore National Park will be thrilling too. 

How to Reach:

Rajasthan has one International airport (Jaipur International Airport) and many domestic airports (Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur, Jodhpur Airport, Kota, Bikaner etc). The Western Railways ensures great rail connectivity in most towns, cities and even villages of Rajasthan through either broad gauge or meter gauge trains. You can also use the RSRTC state run buses to commute or hire a car.

Mathura Vrindavan

Mathura and Vrindavan are two gemstones of the Vrajbhoomi or the place of Lord Krishna’s birth. Located in western Uttar Pradesh, Vraj is a coveted pilgrimage and tourist destination, especially for foreign travellers who wish to see the great Lord Krishna’s world. With river Yamuna, the mighty Govardhan hill in the backdrop and various ghats, temples and baithaks, Vraj is abound with joy. This land becomes the hotspot for tourists in the month of March as Holi is famous in Vrindavan. It is a cool, dry weather that helps matters and temperature remains between 16-32°C. 

Things to Do:

Holi in Vraj is a 40 day affair, starting from Basant Panchami and ending on the day of Holi. The streets of Vraj are as coloured in gulal as the temples, serenading the memory of little Krishna, who played holi with his friends and the milk maidens for over a month. The most famous holi celebration here is the ‘Lath-maar’ Holi played in Barsana, where the men come to throw colour on women and the women beat them up with canes. This custom is also a hangover from the time when Radha beat up Krishna as he came to throw colour on her. In Mathura, you will see all temples alive with gulal, from Krishna Janmbhoomi to the Dwarkadhish temple to Vishram ghat. 

The Bank Bihari temple, ISCKON temple and Radharaman in Vrindavan see some of the best holi darshans for devotees and tourists. One word of caution: keep your minds open while witnessing the abusive back and forth between locals here on Holi as it is a custom, but also look out for your safety by avoiding wandering alone. 

How to Reach:

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is the nearest airport to Mathura-Vrindavan. Mathura Junction is the nearest railway station. Internally, in Vraj, we suggest you hire a car because the towns are not more than an hour’s drive from each other. Local buses are available but not always punctual and not the most luxurious. Auto-rickshaws and chakddas can also be used as they are cheaper.

Shimla

The quintessential hill station, Shimla is the first place you would think when someone said ‘hill station.’ Located in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is great for the summers, as the temperature is pleasant here and people love to escape the heat down in the plains. March, therefore, is a good time to be in Shimla, as the snow is thawing after winter and you get all the amazing deals and discounts before tourist season sets in. 

Things to Do: 

Enjoy the awesome views of Shimla, starting with the toy train ride from Kalka to Shimla. Explore the Lakkar Bazar for shopping reasonably priced wares and head to Jakhoo to see the famous Hindu temple. The Christ church is another coveted tourist attraction for its architecture, while the Ridge is the centre of all activity in Shimla. For adventure, go river rafting in Tattapani and follow hiking trails like Glen, Summer Hill, Kamna Devi Temple and Prospect Hill. The Military Museum at Annadale is a good visit if you wish to explore the history of bravery of soldiers of the past. If you are interested in roadside food stalls, cafes selling pastries and milkshakes and shopping, head to Mall Road.

How to Reach:

Shimla Airport located in Jubbarhatti is only 22 km away from the city centre and the best bet for flying in. Air India and Alliance Air operate daily flights to Delhi. If coming in by train, Kalka is the closest railway station, 87 km away, welcoming regular trains from Delhi. By road, you will have to either hire a car or drive to Shimla yourself from New Delhi (350 km) or Chandigarh (118 km). Buses are also an option.

Allepey

Alleppey also called Alappuzha, is a beautiful city tucked by the Laccadive Sea. This city of Kerala is known for its idyllic streams of backwaters, lagoons and colourful houseboats. With average temperature of 28°C, you are bound to fall in love with the weather and the water and the place in March. It is not yet summer so the heat is contained, making the land breezy and cool for you. Water sports are at their best, as are the temples and beaches.

Things to Do:

A relaxed, languid holiday in Alleppey consists of sun, sea and the sand. Literally. Start your trip with the Alappuzha Beach, home to the 19th century Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is a marvel, looking a lot like it has been torn from a Tin Tin comic. Visit the Mullakkal Temple, Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple, Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple and Sree Subramanya Swami Temple. You must also pay a visit to Kathakali, International Coir Museum, Revi Karunakaran Museum, St Mary’s Church and Latin Catholic Church. And at the end, head to Alleppey Backwaters and book a leisurely houseboat for a relaxed time. Also, when in Kerala, get yourself booked in for an Ayurvedic massage; they are supposed to be excellent. 

How to Reach:

Cochin, located 78 km away, is the closest airport to Allepey. You will find flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai etc flying frequently to Cochin. The Alapuzha Railway Station is 4 km away from the city centre. It becomes a hub for trains coming in from South, West and Central India. Hiring cars, vans or taking state run buses is another option from other Kerala cities.

Dehradun

Doon, as it is lately referred to by the cool new generation, is the capital of the newly formed state of Uttarakhand. Dehradun is a part of the valley that is made by Himalayas and Shivalik ranges, with rivers Ganga and Yamuna flowing through its eastern and western borders respectively. With all these mountains and rivers, no wonder the town is known for its natural aura and scenic beauty. March kickstarts the tourist season in Dehradun, with spring in the air and summer round the corner. The weather is pleasant, temperature between 17-35°C and no hindrance of rains to outdoor activities. Holi is also a rage in the hills, celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Things to Do:

Visit the Rajaji National Park for a wild wild wildlife safari, with animals like Tiger, Cheetah, Leopard, Himalayan Bear, Himalayan Yellow-Throated Marten, Sloth Bears etc for company. Head to the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Timbra Museum or Entomology Museum for some ‘gyaan’ of the area. Go paragliding in the hills of Dehradun, and stun yourself with aerial views of Mussoorie, Pauri and Rishikesh. Trekking is also quite a rage here, with trails like Chhaskhet, Nag Tibba, Bhadraj Hill etc. Another wild attraction here is the Robber’s Cave, magical and enticing as a river flows through it. For some quiet and peace, take a ride to Sahastradhara or the 'thousand fold spring,’ suffused with sulphur for remedying many human ailments. 

How to Reach:

The Jolly Grant Airport located 20 km from the city centre is your flying-in spot when coming to Dehradun. The city also boasts of a railway station and has frequent trains from Delhi, Lucknow, Ujjain, Kolkata, Mumbai etc. You can also take the road, with bus services available: AC deluxe, sleeper and interstate ones by the Uttarakhand government. Or you can hire a car. When in the city, you can commute by using buses, private cars, autos or vikrams.

Lachung

Lachung, the name literally comes to mean ‘a small pass.’ Lachung is a sleepy little mountain village in the midst of Northern Sikkim, forked by river Lachung. You will find yourself in the midst of mountains, waterfalls, mist-clouded valleys and Rhododendron flowers here. In the month of March, summer comes to Lachung and the mighty Rhododendron flowers bloom in the valley. With temperature between 10°C - 28°C, this time is special and colourful and hosts many a harvest festivals.

Things to Do:

Visit the Lachung Monastery for its murals and Naga Falls for some great sights. The Shingba Shrub Sanctuary blooms with rhododendron flowers in colours ranging from purple to pink to red to yellow to white. You must also head to Yumthang Valley or Yume Samdong for more insight into rhododendrons. The latter is also famous for making incense sticks (agarbattis) out of these flowers. The village is also home to some great fruit orchards, including those of peaches, apricots and apples. The farmers welcome everybody with open arms for a tour of their orchards. Finally, there is the Zero Point, the last human outpost. It is a great sight to behold.

How to Reach:

You can fly into Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, which is only 195 km away from Lachung. From there you can take a bus up to Lachung or hire a car. As for trains, you can take one to New Jalpaiguri Station, 127 km away from Lachung. Guwahati and West Bengal are connected well to this station. However, driving up to Lachung is the most scenic and hence most preferred routes. You can do so from Gangtok (113 km) or Darjeeling (169 km).

Shillong

Shillong is a lush hill station, and also capital of Meghalaya in the northeast. Renowned for its gardens, walking trails, waterfalls and clean villages, Shillong is very cold through winters and wet as a dog in monsoon. Hence the best time to visit Shillong starts in March, with the onset of summer, when temperature is anywhere between 15°C to 24°C.

Things to Do: 

Go boating in the Umiam Lake, angling at Dawki and rappel down the waterfalls at Elephant Falls. This is just the beginning of fun in Shillong. You are in for some amazing kayaking at Kynshi River, followed by cave explorations through Krem Mawsmai, Krem Mamluh, and Krem Umshyrpi. You can also head to Mawlynnong, which is the cleanest village in Asia. If you are looking at something unique and child-like, then there is the Sky View Tree House, where you can stay a night in a treehouse. There are also great walking trails down Wards Lake and Nokrek National Park. Apart from all the nature love, you can also check out the Fun Park, Anglican Cemetery and State Museum, while enjoying a hip nightlife at Platinum, Cloud 9 or Dejavu in town.

How to Reach:

The closest airport to Shillong is Umroi Airport near Barapani, located about 25 km away from the city centre. You can hire a taxi from the airport to Shillong or board the local bus. If coming in by train, Guwahati is your last stop before you hire a car up to Shillong. You can also choose to drive yourself from Guwahati to Shillong. It is an experience to revel in, with pretty, lush sights, especially in the months of March-April.

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga has become synonymous with the one-horned rhinoceros, housing these incredible creatures and giving them the sanctuary they deserve. The park is located in Assam, shared between Golaghat and Nagaon districts. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Sight, one of the only five natural ones. In the month of March, the sightings of animals here is very good, in fact, at one of its all-season best. The park shuts for summer and monsoon by April and hence this is also the end of the tourist season here. 

Things to Do: 

You can choose a jeep safari here or an elephant safari (on the back of an elephant). The jeep safari covers 4 major zones, namely, Mihimukh, Bagori, Agaratoli, Ghorakati. You can also go for a guided bird watching tour in the park to see Pelican, Whistling Teal, adjutant stork and other exotic birds. Other unique spots here are the Kaziranga Orchid Park, Tea gardens in Jorhat (Tocklai Tea Research Institute) and the Kakochang Waterfall. There are also a few coffee and rubber plantations to tour. For adventure, you can pick a boat and go floating in Brahmaputra, watch the Gangetic River Dolphins and soak in the mood of the riverside. For history buffs, head to Sibsagar to soak in the amazing architecture there.

How to Reach:

Guwahati International Airport (217 km) and Jorhat Airport (97 km) are two major airports near Kaziranga. You can either board one of the state run buses from the city centres or hire cars that are available right outside the airports. Furkating is the nearest railway station to Kaziranga National Park, only 75 km away. It is connected very efficiently to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. While taking the road, you can drive in from Guwahati, Jorhat, Golaghat or Tezpur.